In Opposition There is little doubt that confidence will be high in the South Shields camp this weekend as they look to continue an FA Cup campaign that has already provided many memorable moments.

The Mariners have already eliminated three teams from higher divisions as they made it through to this stage of the competition, including thrilling wins over Darlington and York City.

As well as that, joint bosses Graham Fenton and Lee Picton have overseen a strong start to the league season and they currently sit top of their table with nine wins from ten games.

They have big ambitions and have invested heavily both on and off the pitch in recent years under Chairman and boyhood fan Geoff Thompson and have achieved promotion in each of the last two seasons to make it to Evo-Stik First Division North.

One To Watch Julio Arca has been rolling back the years at South Shields since retiring from the professional game and subsequently signing for The Mariners in 2015.

The Argentinian enjoyed a lengthy spells at the top of the English game with Sunderland and Middlesbrough where he was a crowd favourite – and he’s every inch as popular with Shields fans.

Arca actually played against Pools in the FA Cup previously when on the books at the Stadium of Light, scoring the only goal when Neale Cooper’s men were edged out 1-0 on Wearside in 2004.

Whilst the 36-year-old played most of his professional career on the left flank, he sits in a central role at the base of a diamond for The Mariners where he likes to collect possession and get them moving.

Form Guide South Shields: WWWWWWPools: DWLDWW

Head To Head Saturday’s game will represent the first competitive meeting between the two clubs.

Referee Peter Wright will take charge of his second Pools game this weekend when he’s the man on the whistle for our FA Cup trip to South Shields.

The official’s only other appointment for a Pools fixture came on the opening day of the season when he presided over our 1-0 defeat to Dover Athletic at Victoria Park.

Wright has so far taken charge of nine games during what is his second season on the National League list of referees, with his most recent outing coming in Tranmere Rovers’ goalless draw with Chester last weekend.

Live Coverage Pools fans will be able to follow the action with full live commentary on Pools PlayerHD as we link-up with our friends at BBC Tees once again.

FA Cup Win For Pools At South Shields

Pools sealed their place in the First Round proper of the FA Cup with a 2-1 victory over South Shields at Mariner's Park.

It was the hosts who took a first-half lead in the game but Pools hit two quick-fire second-half goals through Devante Rodney and Nicky Deverdics to seal the win.

Pools started the game strongly and dominated the opening twenty minutes of the action, playing some good attacking football.

Devante Rodney enjoyed space down the right and used his pace early on to send a pacy ball across the face of goal that just escaped the attentions of Jonathan Franks at the far post.

Nicky Deverdics added his weight to the attack and sent a great cross in from the left that saw Jack Norton punch it clear. Jack Munns got in to meet the rebound but his low shot was blocked out.

Munns, who had a lively start to the game, picked out Louis Laing with a well-taken corner from the right. The big defender headed the ball down where Rodney tried to flick it over the line but his touch took it just over the bar.

On 20 minutes, South Shields had their first attack of the game and the move signalled a change of fortunes for Pools.

Scott Loach punched that effort clear, before watching long-distance efforts from Matthew Pattison and Robert Briggs go wide of his goal.

The hosts made their pressure count on 26 minutes as Cal Finnigan capitalised on a slip by Scott Harrison to turn and fire a shot past Loach to make it 1-0 from 12 yards out.

Laing got in a decent block to deny Gavin Cogdon just after the goal as Shields pushed on in search of a quick second.

Loach pulled off another save to deny Cogdon from the right, before the big keeper pulled off a great stop to prevent Pattison who had picked up a decent ball from Finnigan.

Jonathan Franks tried an effort from distance as Pools looked to get back on level terms but it was easy for the keeper who collected the shot.

South Shields went closest to adding another before the break as they finished a good passage of play with a strike from Finnigan that went just over, before Pattison hit the woodwork with a late strike on goal.

Nicky Featherstone had the first effort of the second half as he took a chance from the edge of the box but his shot went wide.

And then, with Pools next attack, the scores were level; Rhys Oates did well to force his way into the box and, while his shot was blocked, the ball square to Rodney who rolled it under Norton to make it 1-1.

Five minutes later and Pools were ahead through Nicky Deverdics; Oates was fouled running through on goal and the freekick was awarded. Deverdics stepped up to take it and sent a perfectly-weighted ball past the wall, past the keeper and into the back of the net from at least 30 yards out to make it 2-1 to Harrison’s side.

The hosts responded well to going behind and had a decent chance on goal not long after as Cogdon pushed in from the right to shoot but again Loach pulled off a strong save to deny any chance.

Pattison fired in a left-footed strike from just inside the box that took a deflection and went just wide of Loach’s left-hand post.

But while it remained the hosts who did more of the attacking, Pools looked composed and well-organised, lead by the impressive Nicky Featherstone who was solid all afternoon in the middle for Harrison’s side.

It was a professional display by Pools who managed the game perfectly in the end to take the win and seal their place in the draw for the First Round of this year's FA Cup.